Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing Over $230K from Elderly Pensioner!
Amber Diacetis, a 30-year-old resident of Albany, New York, has admitted to stealing more than $230,000 from an elderly man.
Authorities revealed that Diacetis and another individual, Devin Zielinski, 33, are accused of conspiring to exploit the 86-year-old pensioner after meeting him through an online platform.
According to investigators, Diacetis introduced the victim to Zielinski, and the pair convinced the elderly man to let them become his live-in caregivers.
The victim, who relied on monthly income from his pension and Social Security, was persuaded to entrust the defendants with managing his finances.
The investigation found that the victim received $3,526 monthly from his pension and $2,138 from Social Security. Between January 2018 and August 2023, approximately $338,000 was deposited into his bank account.
However, the defendants failed to pay the victim’s bills for four years, leading to severe financial consequences, including the foreclosure of his home, repossession of his vehicle, and a lack of basic utilities like electricity.
The victim, unaware that his bills had gone unpaid, lived in increasingly dire conditions.
According to the source, Authorities reported that the elderly man resided in a house without a functioning toilet or shower and was in desperate need of care.
It was discovered that the defendants had withdrawn over $230,000 from the victim’s accounts, leaving him in financial ruin.
Thankfully, the victim has since received proper care and no longer resides in the uninhabitable home. Law enforcement continues to work on the case, ensuring justice is served.
Diacetis has pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2025.
Meanwhile, Zielinski faces a second-degree grand larceny charge and was arraigned on November 8. His next court appearance is set for December 23.
The New York State Comptroller’s Office encourages anyone with information about fraud involving taxpayer money to come forward.
Allegations can be reported by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-888-672-4555, filing a complaint online, or mailing a complaint to the Office of the State Comptroller Division of Investigations at 110 State St., Albany, NY.